Chapter 1: Awakening
The large, glossy display box sat on Dave’s kitchen table, its sleek surface reflecting the soft overhead light. He ran his fingers over the edge of the lid, feeling the cool, smooth material against his skin. This is it, he thought, his heart beating a little faster. My very own Wimil. The packaging was minimalistic yet elegant, a small holographic logo representing the Eris Nishimoto Bio Corp in the corner that shimmered faintly as he tilted the box. He’d saved for months to afford this; a bio-engineered companion, a creature that was part human, part something else entirely.
Dave had been alone for what felt like forever. The city outside his apartment buzzed with life, but inside, the silence was deafening. Nights spent staring at the flickering glow of his holoscreen, days filled with the monotony of work and the hollow ache of solitude. He’d tried dating apps, AI companions, and even one of those 'assigned girlfriend' monthly subscription services where the women could choose to actually date you after the mandatory month of simulated relationship was up. But nothing had worked. No one had stuck around.
Then he’d seen an ad for Wimils. “Your perfect companion, designed just for you.” He'd seen the ubiquitous ads before, but he'd never considered buying one for two reasons: the cost, and the fact that Wimils weren't human. After years of being alone though, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. A Wimil wasn’t human, sure, but she was close enough. She wouldn’t judge him, wouldn’t leave him, wouldn’t expect anything more than he could give. She’d be there, warm and real, a presence in his life that he so desperately needed. She'd be like a pet that could actually understand him when he talked to her.
So he’d saved. Every credit, every bonus, every spare bit of income went into the fund. It wasn’t cheap. Designer bioengineering didn’t come without a price, but Dave didn’t care. This wasn’t just a purchase; it was an investment in his happiness. And now, here she was, waiting for him in that sleek, glossy box.
He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he prepared to open it. This is it, he thought again, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside him. No more loneliness. No more empty nights. This was his chance to finally have someone—or something—to call his own.
He flipped the latches on the sides of the box, the soft click echoing in the quiet room. With a deep breath, he lifted the lid. Inside, nestled in a bed of plush foam, was a Wimil. Resembling a slender, adult, female human but at half the size, she was smaller than he’d expected—petite, delicate, almost doll-like. Her skin was smooth and pale, her features soft and slightly feline. Her shoulder-length hair was a pastel shade of blue with purple highlights. Her closed eyes were framed by long lashes that fluttered faintly, as if she were dreaming. She wore the factory default Wimil attire: A loose halter top and a pair of plain cotton panties. A pink tail was curled up behind her, not furry like a cat's tail, but hairless like a mouse's. The sight of her made something stir deep inside him, a mix of curiosity and... what was it? Affection? Desire? He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
Dave reached for the air-hypo that had come with the package. It was a small, cylindrical device, filled with the specialized drugs needed to wake her from the induced coma Wimils were stored in. He hesitated for a moment, the weight of what he was about to do settling on his chest. She’s just a bio-engineered creature, he reminded himself. She’s not real. Not fully. But as he pressed the air-hypo to the side of her neck and heard the soft hiss of the drugs entering her system, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more real than he'd expected.
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, revealing irises that were a stunning shade of green, flecked with gold. They focused on him, blinking in confusion. She tilted her head to the side, a gesture that was so inherently cat-like that Dave couldn’t help but smile. Her ears, though they resembled normal human ears, seemed to move like a cat's, subtly twitching and swiveling in the direction of sound. “Hey there,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Welcome home..." Dave quickly glanced at her name printed on the underside of the box lid. "...Liki.”
According to the user guide, Wimils could understand a limited English vocabulary, but they weren’t able to talk, so he didn't expect her to answer. Not verbally, anyway. She stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable, before slowly sitting up. Her movements were graceful and fluid, like a dancer. She sniffed the air, her nose twitching ever so slightly, and then she looked at him again. Her gaze was curious, with a distinctly hazy look in her eyes.
"The user guide says I'm supposed to give you a hot bath to help you wake up from the hiber-coma. Do you want to take a bath?” he said, offering her his hand. She hesitated for only a second before placing her small hand in his. Her fingers felt strangely cool, having just woken up from her storage state, but her skin was softer than he’d imagined. He put his hands under her armpits and lifted her out of the box, her bare feet touching the cool floor for the first time. She wobbled slightly, unsteady on her legs, so Dave quickly supported her with his hands on her waist. She leaned into him, her body pressed against his side, and he could feel her warmth through the thin fabric of her clothes.
He led her to the bathroom, where he’d already prepared a warm bath according to the user manual instructions. The room was steamy, the air thick with the scent of lavender. Liki’s eyes widened as she took in the tub, her nostrils flaring as she breathed in the soothing aroma. She looked up at him, her expression questioning. “It’s okay,” he reassured her. “This is for you.”
Unsure how to proceed with taking her clothes off, Dave reached out slowly and grasped the hem of her top. Liki looked down at his hand, then back at his face. She smiled and squeezed his wrist affectionately. Dave wasn't sure what that meant, but he went ahead and started to pull her top over her head. Liki didn't try to stop him, and she shook her hair out as he pulled off her top. That was easy, Dave thought. He lightly grasped the waistband of her panties, his fingers brushing against her skin as he did so. He watched her for a moment, to gauge her reaction. He tried to keep his touch clinical, professional, but it was hard not to notice how perfect she was. She looked up at him and put her hands on his, as if to help him pull down her panties. He helped her step out of her underwear, and she stood completely naked before him. Though he felt guilty about it, Dave couldn't help himself as he placed his hands on her shoulders, taking a moment to savor the beauty of this amazing creature.
Liki’s face was elfin and lovely, with a small upturned nose, and large, almond-shaped eyes framed by thick lashes. Her soft lips were a faint pink that complemented her pastel blue hair streaked with subtle purple highlights. She made no effort to hide her perfectly proportioned, pert breasts, tipped with light pink nipples. Her waist was narrow, emphasizing the gentle flare of her hips, while her toned belly had a hint of softness that added to her captivating allure. Below, a small patch of downy blue hair led to the delicate cleft barely visible between her thighs. Liki’s legs were slender and shapely, ending in tiny, smooth feet. She stood there, patient and serene, a beautifully scaled-down woman, just a little over four feet tall.
Every inch of her was designed to be appealing, to draw the eye and the touch, and as Dave looked at her, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and desire. She was so small, so delicate, yet there was an undeniable allure to her that made it hard to look away. He felt as though he'd been hypnotized just by looking at her. Dave shook his head to break from the reverie. Oh, right... bath.
She stepped into the tub without hesitation, sinking into the warm water with a soft sigh. Her eyes closed as she leaned back, her body relaxing completely.
Dave knelt beside the tub, picking up a soft sponge and dipping it into the water. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. She’s just a Wimil, he reminded himself again. She’s not… real. But as he began to gently wash her arm, her skin silky smooth under the sponge, he couldn’t help but feel like he was crossing some kind of line. She opened her big, green eyes and looked at him, her gaze soft and trusting.
He really hoped that touching her like this didn't activate her abuse safeguards. There were multiple warnings throughout the user manual detailing that, even though Wimils are your property, if the Wimil feels mistreated in any way, an implant in its head would transmit an abuse alert with sensory-feed recordings to the company. It went without saying that Eris Nishimoto was known to very aggressively prosecute Wimil abusers. The user guide specified that undressing your Wimil to bathe them and change their clothes was permitted with the Wimil's non-verbal consent. He knew for sure that he at least wouldn't get in trouble for that. Supposedly, they quickly learned to dress and bathe themselves, as well. Touching certain areas was designated off-limits by the user manual, but accidental touches and light grazes to these areas would not generate an abuse alert. Beyond that, the rules were essentially up to the perception of the Wimil. The user manual specified that the Wimil could initiate certain types of contact that would disable the abuse safeguards temporarily for reciprocal contact. Even in these cases, pain or extreme emotional distress would still have the fully-armed ENBC Abuse Team at your door within minutes, backed by an army of lawyers.
He continued to bathe her, his touches gentle, almost reverent. She seemed to enjoy it, her eyes closing again as he worked the sponge over her body. When he reached her legs, she shifted slightly, her thighs parting just enough to give him access. Liki looked up at him expectantly, her large, green eyes shining. His breath caught in his throat, but he forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He washed her legs, his fingers brushing against the soft skin of her inner thighs, and he could feel her body shiver under his touch. Please don't feel abused, little Wimil. Please don't feel abused.
When he was done, he wrapped her in a soft towel, drying her off before leading her back to the living room. He’d laid out a small plate of Wimil Pellets on the coffee table, along with a bowl of water and a glass of water. He wasn't sure if Wimils lapped water from bowls, or if they could use cups. She eyed the food curiously before picking up a pellet and sniffing it. She popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly, with a thoughtful expression on her angelic face. After a moment, she smiled—a small, sweet smile. Supposedly, Wimil pellets contained all the necessary vitamins and proteins that a Wimil needed, as well as nanobiotes, to regulate their hormones and general health. Dave felt relieved that she seemed to like the pellets. She was designed to like them, he reasoned. She eyed him over the rim of the glass of water as she tipped it into her mouth, swallowing small gulps. Okay, so they can use cups. Good.
He’d bought her a few outfits, simple things—a cute sundress, a pair of overalls, a hoodie. He dressed her in the sundress, slipping her tail through the hole in the back, then helped her step in to her panties and pulled them up under her dress so he felt like he was preserving her modesty a little. She rubbed the fabric, feeling its softness against her skin. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent, and he felt that same ache in his chest again. She is so… perfect.
She crawled onto the couch beside him, curling up against his side, her small body warm and soft. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer, and she nuzzled into his chest, a soft purr escaping her lips. It was a sound that was both strange and comforting, a reminder that she was something other, but also something… his.
He ran his fingers through her hair, the strands silky and smooth. She looked up at him, her green eyes glowing in the dim light of the room. There was something in her gaze—something that looked awfully human. Was it affection? Desire? She leaned in, her lips brushing against his cheek in what could only be described as a kiss. It was soft, almost tentative, but it's unexpectedness surprised Dave.
“Aww, Liki. You're giving me kisses? That's so sweet,” he whispered, his voice wavering slightly. She tilted her head, her eyes searching his face. He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing against her soft skin. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. The user manual allowed all touches to the face; this wouldn't activate any safeguard. He could feel her warmth, her breath against his skin.
Face touches were permitted, so could he kiss her? She'd kissed him, so did that make it ok? Feeling brave, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers. She didn’t pull away—instead, she pressed closer, pulling herself up by gripping the front of his shirt. The kiss deepened, her lips parting under his, and he could taste the faint sweetness of the Wimil pellets on her tongue. His hand slid down her back, pulling her closer, and she melted into him, her body soft and pliant against his.
She broke the kiss, her breath coming in soft pants, and looked up at him, her eyes hooded. There was something new in her gaze—something hungry. She reached up, her fingers brushing against his jaw, and then she leaned in again, her lips meeting his with a vigor that took him by surprise.
Her small hands tugged at his shirt, pulling it up, and he helped her take it off, his heart racing. Why does she want to take my shirt off? Does she even understand what clothes are? Is she just copying what I did to her earlier when I bathed her? She pressed her hands against his chest, her fingers splaying across his skin, and he could feel the heat of her touch. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his neck...
“Liki, maybe don't...” he murmured, unsure what she was doing. She looked up at him, her green eyes glowing with an intensity that gave him butterflies.
She shifted, straddling his lap, her small body pressed against his. Her hands slid down his chest, her movements slow, deliberate. He could feel her warmth, her breath against his skin, and suddenly, he wasn’t sure who was in control anymore.
Her hands found the waistband of his pants, and she looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. “Liki, wait...” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. She tilted her head, her gaze curious. She took his trembling hands in hers and pressed them to her chest. Dave froze; he didn't entirely understand the abuse rules yet, but didn't the manual say that this kind of touching could activate an alert?
She moved his hands to her lower back... her very lower back. Releasing his arms, she leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear. He could feel her breath, warm and soft, against his skin. “Dave,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. Maybe the alert system was deactivated because he was just reciprocating her touches, only touching her where she directed him to touch?
His breath caught in his throat. “Liki,” he whispered, his hands fully under her dress now, tightened on her rounded butt, exploring the differences between the texture of her panties and her impossibly soft skin.
She leaned in again, her lips brushing against his. “Dave,” she whispered, her voice soft, almost...
Wait, I thought Wimils couldn't talk?
